B and D Auctions

05/29/2026

WHAT IS IT WEDNESDAY REVEAL

If you guessed a portrait box, miniature dish, or decorative keepsake, you were very close.

This week’s mystery item is:

Lot #1234 - Admiral Lord Nelson Battersea Enamel S***f Box

A s***f box was used to hold powdered to***co, a popular accessory in the 18th and 19th centuries. But this one has an especially striking twist with its hand-painted portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, one of Britain’s most celebrated naval figures.

Between the bold black ground, gilt star decoration, and detailed enamel portrait, this little box carries a surprising amount of history in a very small package.

Proof once again that in the auction world, the smallest objects often have the biggest stories.

Bidding is open now at B&D Auctions.

***fBox

05/29/2026

A distinguished selection of favorite lots, presented with all the grace and restraint you have come to expect from B&D Auctions.

A saddle on a cart. A team with strong opinions. A few exceptional finds. And, naturally, a mophead finale that tested both balance and dignity.

Our crew picked their favorite lots from the sale ending Monday, June 1st at 10:00 AM, and while the presentation may be slightly unhinged, the auction is very much worth your attention.

Browse, bid, and choose your own favorite before the hammer falls.

05/28/2026

Heavy in iron. Heavy with history.

History is not always preserved behind glass. Sometimes, it survives in iron, worn by time and still carrying the weight of the past.

Each piece offers a unique look at the engineering, strategy, and immense burden carried through early American conflict.

Featured in our upcoming auction bidding begins closing at 10:00 AM, Monday 6/1.

Which relic would you want to study up close?

05/27/2026

Ahoy, collectors… it’s What Is It Wednesday. ⚓️

This curious piece has sailed into the spotlight, and now we’re turning the wheel over to you.

Is it practical? Decorative? A relic from another tide?
Drop your best guess below before we reveal what this mystery find really is.

Fair winds and clever guesses encouraged. 🌊👀

05/25/2026

Before it was Memorial Day, it was Decoration Day, a time set aside after the Civil War to place flowers on the graves of those who had fallen.

Years later, the red poppy became another quiet symbol of remembrance, rooted in the fields of Flanders where so many lives were lost during World War I.

From flowers laid in honor to poppies that still speak of sacrifice, the meaning endures: remembrance, reverence, and gratitude for those who never returned home.

This Memorial Day, we pause with gratitude, reverence, and honor.

05/22/2026

What Is It Wednesday officially fooled the crowd this week. 🎭🍬

At first glance, a charming little pair of antique-style opera glasses. But hidden inside? A candy container. Because apparently sneaking snacks into the theater has been a refined tradition for longer than we thought.

Tiny details like this are exactly why we love estate fresh finds. Equal parts clever, whimsical, and conversation starter.

Lot #631 – Estate Pipes & Opera Glass Candy Container
Bidding is now open. 👀✨

05/21/2026

Early arrivals are already hinting at a strong mid June lineup…

Franciscan Starburst earthenware, towering swung glass vases, collectible Japanese woodblock art, and a green slag glass rooster on nest covered dish that completely caught our attention.

Hen on nests are common. Roosters? Not so much. Because apparently even the antiques are embracing chaos this season. 🐓

This early preview is already shaping up nicely.

Which piece would you beeline for first? 👀

05/21/2026

The ladies of B&D went down a rabbit hole today researching ball jars for a potential consignor. Check out this fun article we stumbled across.

Unless a ball jar is rare they bring run of the mill bidder attention at our auction. I'll post our past sale results in the comments.

Keep those eyes peel for some of these other colors!

Antique fruit and canning jars are worth much more than just their country charm.

05/20/2026

A proper What Is It Wednesday should inspire a bit of curiosity… and a touch of debate.

Some will know instantly.
Others will be wonderfully convinced they do.

Your turn, what exactly are we looking at? 👀 🕵️‍♀️

05/19/2026

What do a 19th-century pepper box, a Hofner bass, and a Victorian spaniel have in common?
They all brought some serious competition.

This week’s high-bid highlights proved once again that the right objects have a way of finding their audience. From an 1870 Alice in Wonderland to a Belsnickle Santa, Royal Doulton spaniels, Griswold cast iron, and a few other notable standouts, collectors came ready.

A little history. A little rarity. A little “who keeps outbidding me?”

Quality has a way of finding its audience, and this week, the audience came ready.

Have something remarkable? Let’s see what kind of competition it can inspire.